Air duct system for a rail vehicle of passenger traffic

ABSTRACT

An air duct system for a passenger rail vehicle has a first component venting duct with at least one opening to a second component venting duct and at least one air outlet for ventilating an inner space of the rail vehicle. Furthermore, a membrane that can be held in a formable and/or movable manner is arranged on the air duct system in such a manner that the membrane reduces and or closes the opening and opens the air outlet in a first state and reduces or closes the air outlet and opens the opening in a second state.

The invention relates to an air duct system for a rail vehicle of passenger traffic, having a first part-ventilation duct, a second part-ventilation duct and a diaphragm which is retained in a deformable and/or movable manner.

An air duct system for a rail vehicle of passenger traffic comprises in compact form an air duct for guiding hot air for heating and cold air for cooling the rail vehicle. The air volume flows for heating and cooling in this instance generally differ. Air duct cross-sections and air outlets in the air duct for ventilating an inner space of the rail vehicle are generally configured for the higher air volume flow, which involves the disadvantage of a non-uniform air distribution with a lower air volume flow.

Alternatively, two part-ventilation ducts which are separated from each other are provided, one for hot air and another for cold air. The air outlets are then accordingly adapted to the different air volume flows in order to achieve a uniform air distribution in the rail vehicle. To this end, according to DE 10 2005 031 912 A1, a diaphragm is located as a partition wall between the two part-ventilation ducts. Depending on the air pressure, it increases a first part-ventilation duct whilst at the same time decreasing a second part-ventilation duct. There is no provision for an air exchange between the part-ventilation ducts. The disadvantage of the air duct systems with two separated part-ventilation ducts is the increased structural space requirement thereof in comparison with the air duct systems with only one ventilation duct.

An object of the invention is to provide an air duct system which is compact and which enables a uniform air distribution in the rail vehicle.

The object is achieved with the subject-matter of the independent patent claim 1. Developments and embodiments of the invention are set out in the features of the dependent patent claims.

A rail vehicle for passenger transport according to the invention comprises an air duct system according to the invention having a first part-ventilation duct, a second part-ventilation duct and a diaphragm which is retained in a deformable and/or movable manner, wherein the first part-ventilation duct has at least one opening to the second part-ventilation duct and at least one air outlet for ventilating an inner space of the vehicle, and wherein the diaphragm is retained so as to be able to be deformed and/or moved in such a manner and is arranged on or in the air duct system, in particular in the first part-ventilation duct, in such a manner that it reduces or closes the opening in a first state and releases the air outlet and, in a second state, it reduces or closes the air outlet and releases the opening.

In the first part-ventilation duct, a fluid, in particular air, is guided. An air flow of a predetermined volume is, for example, produced by an air-conditioning device and directed into the first part-ventilation duct. According to an embodiment, of the invention, a plurality of openings and/or air outlets are provided in the first part-ventilation duct. According to a development of the air duct system according to the invention, a plurality of openings are arranged so as to be distributed over the length of the first part-ventilation duct. According to another development of the air duct system according to the invention, a plurality of air outlets are arranged so as to be distributed over the length of the first part-ventilation duct. According to a development of the air duct system according to the invention, a plurality of openings and a plurality of air outlets are arranged so as to be distributed over the length of the first part-ventilation duct.

Through the opening(s) and/or through the air outlet(s), part-air volume flows pass proportionally. If the diaphragm reduces the opening(s) in the first state, the part-air volume flow is throttled by the opening(s), in comparison with the released opening(s). In the same manner, the part-air volume flow is throttled by the air outlet(s) when the diaphragm reduces the air outlet(s) in the second state, compared with the part-air volume flow through the air outlet(s) in the released state of the air outlet(s). For the sake of simplicity, the invention is described below with one opening and one air outlet, without in this instance excluding the embodiments with a plurality of openings and/or air outlets. When the opening or air outlet is closed, the diaphragm prevents the flow of air through the opening or the air outlet, respectively.

According to a development, the diaphragm comprises an air-tight textile or textile which is coated so as to be air-tight. The diaphragm is consequently suitable for closing the opening and/or the air outlet in a simple and air-tight manner. In order to reduce the opening and/or the air outlet, the diaphragm, according to another development of the invention, has at least one hole which is smaller in comparison with the opening and/or in comparison with the air outlet, in particular a hole having a smaller clear width than that of the opening and/or the air outlet.

An embodiment of the invention makes provision for the diaphragm for reducing the opening to have a plurality of holes having a clear width which is predetermined in each case and whose sum is smaller than the clear width of the opening and/or for the diaphragm for reducing the air outlet to have a plurality of holes having a clear width which is predetermined in each case and whose sum is smaller than the clear width of the air outlet.

Another embodiment of the invention makes provision for a plurality of openings to be provided over the length of the first part-ventilation duct and/or for a plurality of air outlets to be provided over the length of the first part-ventilation duct and for the diaphragm for reducing the openings to have at least one hole whose clear width is smaller than the sum of the clear widths of the openings and/or for the diaphragm for reducing the air openings to have at least one hole whose clear width is smaller than the sum of the clear widths of the air outlets.

According to another variant, the diaphragm for reducing the openings has a plurality of holes of a clear width which is predetermined in each case and whose sum is smaller than the sum of the clear widths of the openings and/or the diaphragm has for reducing the air outlets a plurality of holes of a clear width which is predetermined in each case and whose sum is smaller than the sum of the clear widths of the air outlets.

It is consequently possible for a small number of holes which are, however, larger to delimit the air volume flow through a large number of smaller openings and/or air outlets. Both the holes and the openings and/or the air outlets each delimit a part-air volume flow through them. In this instance, the individual clear widths are not decisive for the size of the part-air volume flows, but instead the entire surface-area which is subjected to flow.

In another development, the diaphragm which is otherwise air-tight or coated in an air-tight manner is perforated.

In an embodiment of the air duct system according to the invention, the hole for the air outlet is constructed in such a manner that, in the first state of the diaphragm, a part-air volume flow through the hole and another part-air volume flow through the air outlet are substantially of the same size, for example, in a first approximation in that the sums of the clear widths of the air outlets and the holes are substantially of the same size. In terms of flow technology, other factors are important, such as, for example, the number and shape of the holes or the air outlets, their positions in the air duct system, for example, the position of the holes with respect to the openings and the number, shape and size thereof.

According to another development of the solution according to the invention, a movement and/or deformation of the diaphragm is brought about between the first and the second state of the diaphragm in a manner free from foreign energy, simply by changing the volume flow relationships of the air flows and the associated change of the pressure relationships in the air duct system, in particular by changing the volume flow of a first part-air flow in the first part-ventilation duct. In order to support the movement and/or deformation of the diaphragm or alternatively for foreign-energy-free movement and/or deformation of the diaphragm, means for moving and/or deforming the diaphragm may be provided. In a variant of the invention, a positioning element is provided at the inlet of the first part-ventilation duct and is suitable for guiding the air flow in the first part-ventilation duct in such a manner, for example, by allowing flow against the diaphragm in a selective manner, that the diaphragm moves and/or is deformed from the first to the second state or the diaphragm moves and/or is deformed from the second to the first state. In continuation of the first part-ventilation duct, the state of the diaphragm is determined by the air volume flow and the pressure relationships which are dependent thereon.

In another development of the invention, it is proposed that the diaphragm be arranged on the air duct system in such a manner that it delimits the first part-ventilation duct for guiding an air flow and that it be retained so as to be able to be deformed and/or moved in such a manner that the cross-section of the first part-ventilation duct in the second state is smaller than in the first state. In an embodiment, the diaphragm delimits the first part-ventilation duct by being arranged at two locations of the first part-ventilation duct, which locations are in the cross-section plane and are spaced-apart from each other. Spacings of this cross-section plane with respect to two walls, in particular to two walls parallel therewith, of the first part-ventilation duct are then in particular of different sizes. In addition, the diaphragm may extend parallel with a longitudinal axis of the first part-ventilation duct.

In a development, the first part-ventilation duct has at least two air outlets which are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the first part-ventilation duct. The diaphragm extends parallel with a longitudinal axis of the first part-ventilation duct at least between the two air outlets and delimits the first part-ventilation duct. According to a development, the diaphragm and the air outlets are adapted to each other in such a manner that, in the first state of the diaphragm, for a predetermined total air volume flow, in particular in the first part-ventilation duct, the part-air volume flows from both air outlets are substantially of the same size. If the air in the first part-ventilation duct first strikes the first air outlet, in order subsequently to be further guided to the second air outlet, a part-air volume flow from the first air outlet first appears; an air volume flow which is reduced by the discharged part-air volume flow accordingly strikes the second air outlet. In order to achieve part-air volume flows which are substantially of the same size from both air outlets, the clear widths of the air outlets and the cross-section of the first part-ventilation duct, in a state delimited by the diaphragm, are adapted to each other. If, as in one embodiment, the air outlets are substantially the same, the cross-section of the first part-ventilation duct in the region of the first air outlet is increased in comparison with the cross-section of the first part-ventilation duct in the region of the second air outlet. Alternatively, the air outlets vary, for example, in terms of their size or the diaphragm is retained so as to be resiliently deformable. The air is thus blown out in a uniform manner over the length of at least the first part-ventilation duct, but in particular over the length of the air duct system.

In a development, the first part-ventilation duct has at least two openings which are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the first part-ventilation duct, wherein the diaphragm extends at least between the two openings parallel with a longitudinal axis of the first part-ventilation duct and delimits the first part-ventilation duct, wherein the diaphragm and the openings are adapted to each other in such a manner that, in the second state of the diaphragm, for a predetermined total air volume flow, in particular in the first part-ventilation duct, the part-air volume flows from both openings are substantially of the same size. This is also the case in particular for the first state. At this location, the part-air volume flows through the openings are determined by the holes in the diaphragm.

The total volume air flow is generally higher during cooling than during heating. The clear widths of the air outlets and openings are adapted to the different total volume air flows in order to achieve a uniform air distribution in the vehicle. Thus, the air outlets are, for example, configured for the air flow during cooling and the openings are correspondingly configured for the air volume flow during heating.

Another development of the air duct system according to the invention makes provision for two air outlets to be arranged beside each other on a perpendicular relative to the longitudinal direction of the first part-ventilation duct in the part-ventilation duct, wherein the arrangement of the diaphragm in the air duct system and the movability and/or deformability of the diaphragm and the clear widths of the two air outlets are adapted to each other in such a manner that, in the first state of the diaphragm, the air volume flows from both air outlets are substantially of the same size. In this instance, two air outlets of the same size and a diaphragm which is constructed in a symmetrical manner with respect to the centre axis between the two air outlets are, for example, sufficient in the case of a total air flow which is guided along the longitudinal axis of the first part-ventilation duct.

According to another development of the invention, the first part-ventilation duct is arranged as a roof air duct in a ceiling of the vehicle, and the second part-ventilation duct is arranged in side walls of the vehicle. The second part-ventilation duct leads in particular from the ceiling air duct through the side walls of the vehicle as far as the base of the vehicle.

According to a development of the air duct system according to the invention, at least two part-ventilation ducts are arranged on the first part-ventilation duct, in particular the corresponding openings face the two part-ventilation ducts. For example, the air duct system is constructed symmetrically in cross-section.

The invention permits a number of embodiments. It is explained in greater detail with reference to the following Figures in which an embodiment is illustrated in each case. Elements which are identical in the Figures are given the same reference numerals.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a cross-section of an air duct system according to the invention with a diaphragm in a first state,

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the air duct system according to the invention from FIG. 1 with a diaphragm in a second state,

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of another air duct system according to the invention with a diaphragm in a first state,

FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the air duct system according to the invention from FIG. 3 with a diaphragm in a second state,

FIG. 5 is a cross-section of an air duct system according to the invention with a diaphragm in a first state,

FIG. 6 is a cross-section of the air duct system according to the invention from FIG. 5 with a diaphragm in a second state.

FIG. 1 is a cross-section of an air duct system 1 according to the invention. It comprises a first part-ventilation duct 3 for guiding a part-air flow as a ceiling ventilation duct in the ceiling of a rail vehicle 2, two second part-ventilation ducts 4 which guide a part-air flow as far as the base of the rail vehicle 2 in a state arranged symmetrically at the sides of the first part-ventilation duct 3 and extending in side walls of the rail vehicle 2. The second part-ventilation ducts 4 are in this instance, for example, fitted laterally only locally on the first part-ventilation duct 3. That is to say, the first part-ventilation duct 3 extends along the longitudinal axis thereof into the drawing plane or out of it. However, the second part-ventilation ducts 4 extend, in this instance additionally in alignment with each other, perpendicularly relative thereto and have a small extent in comparison with the first part-ventilation duct 3 in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the first part-ventilation duct 3. Furthermore, a plurality of second part-ventilation ducts 4 may be arranged so as to be distributed over the length of the first part-ventilation duct 3.

Furthermore, the ventilation system 1 has a diaphragm 5. According to the invention, it is constructed so as to be movable and/or deformable, in particular the diaphragm moves and/or is deformed between two states. In the drawn embodiments, the diaphragm 5 switches between a first and a second state in order to regulate the part-air flows in the part-ventilation ducts 3 and 4. One state is in particular stable, the other in particular metastable. For the transition between the two states, the application of a mechanical force to the diaphragm 5 is required.

This is applied in particular by the air flows, in particular the volume of the part-air flow in the first part-ventilation duct 3, by means of the inherent air pressure thereof, to the diaphragm 5. The switching of the diaphragm 5 is thus similar to the clicking of a clicker. Alternatively, the diaphragm 5 is retained in the second or first state only by the air pressure. Optionally, the diaphragm 5 is also in abutment with stops, whereby it is also possible to refer to the first and/or second end position.

The first part-ventilation duct 3 is formed in this instance by a groove facing away from the inner space 11 of the rail vehicle 2 in the ceiling of the rail vehicle 2 and a diaphragm 5 which is fitted to both groove flanks and which is in abutment with a ceiling face 7 in the first state. Air outlets 8 extend through the groove base which delimits the first part-ventilation duct 3 in a downward direction, the diaphragm 5 delimits the first part-ventilation duct 3 in an upward direction. It also has a pot-like cross-section and forms a groove which is, however, opposite the groove in the ceiling. The diaphragm 5 has in a face in abutment with the ceiling face 7 holes 10 which are, however, closed by the abutment with the ceiling face 7 and consequently have no function in the first state. The flanks of the diaphragm 5 are in this embodiment free from holes. The diaphragm 5 itself comprises an air-tight textile. Air of an air flow, which is produced by an air-conditioning device 6, is directed into the first part-ventilation duct 3 and is guided thereby in an axial direction, thereby reaches the inner space 11 of the rail vehicle 2 through the air outlets 8 in the first part-ventilation duct 3 alone.

FIG. 2 now shows the ventilation system according to the invention from FIG. 1, the diaphragm 5 being in a second state. The second part-ventilation ducts 4 are connected thereto by means of openings 9 which are in this instance of the same size in the first part-ventilation duct 3. Since the second part-ventilation ducts 4 are arranged so as to be distributed over the length of the first part-ventilation duct 3, there are naturally also provided a plurality of openings 9 in a state distributed over the length of the first part-ventilation duct 3. These openings 9 in the first state according to FIG. 1 are closed by the diaphragm 5, that is to say, fluid, in particular air, from the first part-ventilation duct 3 cannot flow through the openings 9 into the second part-ventilation duct 4. In this instance, in FIG. 2, the openings 9 of the diaphragm 5 are released in the second state. Air from the first part-ventilation duct 3 therefore flows in an unimpeded manner through the openings 9 into the second part-ventilation duct 4. Air flows are indicated by arrows in all the Figures.

The first part-ventilation duct 3 is formed in the second state of the diaphragm 5 by the diaphragm 5 which in turn assumes the shape of a groove, and by the covering face 7 which the diaphragm 5 still abuts in the first state. Side faces are not illustrated in the cross-sections. They delimit the first part-ventilation duct 3 between the openings 9.

In the second state, however, the shape of the diaphragm 5 is complementary to the groove in the ceiling. In cross-section, two pots appear in a state placed one inside the other. However, the diaphragm 5 is not yet in abutment, with its face which has the holes 10, with the groove base of the groove in the ceiling having the air outlets 8, so that the surface content of the cross-section surface-area of the first part-ventilation duct 3 in the second state is smaller in comparison with the first state. Only in the first state is the complete cross-section thus available for guiding air. If the diaphragm 5, as illustrated in this instance, has an identical or similar profile in the first and second state, the mentioned difference in the cross-section surface-areas of the first part-ventilation duct 3 can be predetermined by the arrangement of the diaphragm 3 in the air duct system 1 and its connection to the air duct system 1.

In addition to the part-air flow through the openings 9 into the second part-ventilation duct 4, air flows from the first part-ventilation duct 3 through the holes 10 in the diaphragm 5 and subsequently through the air outlets 8 into the inner space of the rail vehicle. By means of the number, shape, position and in particular size of the holes 10, the relationship of the volumes of the part-air flows through the openings 9 and through the air outlets 8 can be determined when the volume of the total air flow is predetermined.

In the first state, in particular cold air is guided in the air duct system 1 and accordingly blown out through the air outlets 8 in the ceiling. In the second state, there flows in the air duct system 1 in particular hot air which is accordingly guided mainly through the second part-ventilation duct 4 into the base of the rail vehicle 2 and blown out from that location. Accordingly, FIG. 1 shows a possible air guiding action during a cooling operation and FIG. 2 a possible air guiding action during a heating phase.

In FIG. 3, a ventilation system 1 which is constructed in a substantially identical manner can be seen. Again in a state perpendicular relative to a centre axis through the opposing openings 9, a plurality of air outlets 8 are arranged in the first part-ventilation duct 3 in order to ventilate the inner space 11 of the rail vehicle 2. These may also be arranged longitudinally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the first part-ventilation duct 3 so as to be distributed over the first part-ventilation duct 3. The diaphragm 5 in contrast has no holes in the surface which is in abutment with the ceiling face 7 in the first state. This is the reason for holes 10 being formed in the flanks. Through the holes 10 in the flanks of the diaphragm, air is discharged from the first part-ventilation duct 3 into the second part-ventilation duct 4. Otherwise, the diaphragm 5, as already set out above, is constructed as an air-tight textile diaphragm. The holes 10 in this instance each have a smaller clear width than the openings 9. The air flow through the openings 9 is thereby throttled in comparison with the second state.

In the second state according to FIG. 4, the air outlets 8 are closed by the diaphragm 5. In this instance, the diaphragm 5 again also has substantially the same contour in the first and second state, only mirror-inverted, with a reflection plane through the connection locations of the diaphragm 5 with the first part-ventilation duct 3.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, a ventilation system 1 is in turn differentiated in the first and second state. The diaphragm 5 in turn regulates as a valve the part-air flows through the part-ventilation ducts 3 and 4. FIG. 5 shows the air distribution during cooling operation and FIG. 6 during heating operation. The diaphragm has holes 10 both in the face thereof which is in abutment with the ceiling face 7 in the first state and in the flanks thereof. Air thereby flows in both states through both part-ventilation ducts 3 and 4. The size of the volumes of the corresponding part-air flows is in turn dependent on the number, position, shape and size of the holes 10 in the diaphragm 5 and the air pressure, in particular in the first part-ventilation duct, wherein this parameter listing may not be considered to be complete. The diaphragm 5 may be such that a movement and/or deformation of the diaphragm 5 is brought about in a manner free from foreign energy, simply by a change in air pressure in the air duct system or, depending on the operating mode, there is provided at the inlet of the first part-ventilation duct a positioning element by means of which the state of the diaphragm is adjusted. 

1-10. (canceled)
 11. An air duct system for a rail vehicle of passenger traffic, the air duct system comprising: a first part-ventilation duct; a second part-ventilation duct; a diaphragm retained in a deformable and/or movable manner; said first part-ventilation duct having at least one opening formed therein to said second part-ventilation duct and at least one air outlet for ventilating an inner space of the rail vehicle; and said diaphragm being retained so as to be able to be deformed and/or moved and disposed such that said diaphragm reduces or closes said opening in a first state and releases said air outlet and, in a second state, said diaphragm reduces or closes said air outlet and releases said opening.
 12. The air duct system according to claim 11, wherein: said opening in said first part-ventilation duct is one of a plurality of openings disposed over a length of said first part-ventilation duct; and said air outlet in said first part-ventilation duct is one of a plurality of air outlets disposed over said length of said first part-ventilation duct.
 13. The air duct system according to claim 11, wherein said diaphragm for reducing said opening has a hole formed therein which has a smaller clear width than said opening.
 14. The air duct system according to claim 11, wherein said diaphragm contains an air-tight textile or a textile which is coated so as to be air-tight.
 15. The air duct system according to claim 11, wherein a movement and/or deformation of said diaphragm is brought about in a manner free from foreign energy, simply by changing an air pressure at said diaphragm in the air duct system.
 16. The air duct system according to claim 12, wherein: at least two of said air outlets are spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction of said first part-ventilation duct; said diaphragm extends parallel to a longitudinal axis of said first part-ventilation duct at least between said two air outlets and delimits said first part-ventilation duct; and said diaphragm and said air outlets are adapted to each other such that, in the first state of said diaphragm, for a predetermined total air flow, air flows from both of said air outlets are substantially of a same size.
 17. The air duct system according to claim 12, wherein: at least two of said openings are spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction of said first part-ventilation duct; said diaphragm extends at least between said two openings parallel to a longitudinal axis of said first part-ventilation duct and delimits said first part-ventilation duct; and said diaphragm and said openings are adapted to each other in such a manner that, in the second state of said diaphragm, for a predetermined total air flow, the air flows from both of said openings are substantially of a same size.
 18. The air duct system according to claim 11, wherein said diaphragm is disposed in the air duct system in such a manner that said diaphragm delimits a cross-section of said first part-ventilation duct for guiding an air flow and in that said diaphragm is retained so as to be able to be deformed and/or moved in such a manner that the cross-section in the second state is smaller than in the first state.
 19. The air duct system according to claim 11, wherein said first part-ventilation duct is disposed as a roof air duct in a ceiling of the rail vehicle, and in that said second part-ventilation duct is disposed in side walls of the rail vehicle.
 20. The air duct system according to claim 11, wherein said opening in said first part-ventilation duct is one of a plurality of openings disposed over a length of said first part-ventilation duct.
 21. The air duct system according to claim 11, wherein said air outlet in said first part-ventilation duct is one of a plurality of air outlets disposed over said length of said first part-ventilation duct.
 22. The air duct system according to claim 11, wherein said diaphragm for reducing said air outlet has a hole formed therein which has a smaller clear width than said air outlet.
 23. A rail vehicle for passenger transport, comprising: an inner space; and an air duct system, containing: a first part-ventilation duct; a second part-ventilation duct; a diaphragm retained in a deformable and/or movable manner; said first part-ventilation duct having at least one opening formed therein to said second part-ventilation duct and at least one air outlet for ventilating said inner space of the rail vehicle; and said diaphragm being retained so as to be able to be deformed and/or moved and disposed such that said diaphragm reduces or closes said opening in a first state and releases said air outlet and, in a second state, said diaphragm reduces or closes said air outlet and releases said opening. 